I MUSICI

When i Musici was founded in 1952, its members took the unusual step of playing without a conductor. Within a few years, they were performing all over the world and establishing themselves at the major European festivals. The reason for the Musici’s success lies in their style, musical sensitivity and technique. Each of their performances is a genuine, spontaneous and precise expression of the talent of 12 artists who remain individuals, even if they form an ensemble. In the New York Times, Robert Schuman wrote of them : ‘impeccable verve, stylistic purity and artistry. One is continually struck by their ability to achieve the full sonority of a string orchestra without sacrificing the clarity and extreme precision of a string quartet’.

I Musici are best known for their role in bringing Italian baroque music to the fore, but their repertoire is much broader and covers most of the 20th century. In November 1986 they signed a new contract with Philips Classics, the label for which they had been recording since the beginning of their career. I Musici have undoubtedly contributed to the rediscovery of Vivaldi and their first recording of the Four Seasons is one of the bestsellers in the Philips catalogue. The ensemble consists of six violins, two violas, two cellos, one bass and one harpsichord. The ensemble’s first violin were: Felix Ayo (1952-1967), Roberto Michelucci (1967-1972), Salvatore Accardo (1972-1976), Pina Carmirelli (1972-1986), Federico Agostini (1986-1992), Mariana Sirbu (1992-2003), Antonio Salvatore (2003-2010), Antonio Anselmi (2010-2019), and since 2019, Marco Fiorini. When other instruments are needed, i Musici invites famous soloists such as Heinz Holliger, Severino Gazzelloni and Aurèle Nicolet. At the beginning of their career, Arturo Toscanini declared i Musici to be ‘the best chamber orchestra in the world’. Indeed, they were more successful than any other group of their kind on the recording front: since their first Grand Prix in 1956, i Musici have won several of Europe’s most prestigious prizes.